Chief Garry Park plays host to National Night Out

National Night Out, an evening when neighbors gather and meet, is set for Aug. 7, but some neighborhood groups are getting a head start.

The Chief Garry Park Neighborhood Council will host its National Night Out party Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. at Chief Garry Park, 2701 E. Sinto Ave.

Having the gathering during the day makes it easier for families to attend, said neighborhood council member Charlotte Dubois, who is helping organize the event. “We make it a whole family event,” she said.

The goal of National Night Out is to help neighborhood combat crime in their area. The event usually involves millions of people across the country. Neighborhoods have the option to request that firefighters, law enforcement and elected officials attend their event. Some also have live music.

While this is Dubois’ first time helping organize the event, she has attended previous gatherings and said they’re important.

“We work better together as a neighborhood council and Block Watch,” she said. “It just promotes community goodwill.”

Hosting the event before the official National Night Out means the neighborhood will be sure to get a visit from a police K-9 unit and COPS Mounted Patrol that they requested. “They are confirmed,” Dubois said. “They are coming. When they have it on National Night Out there aren’t enough police officers to visit all the parties.”

The Chief Garry Park National Night Out party will include free food donated by local businesses, games and raffle drawings. Several nonprofit organizations are expected to be in attendance and two local organizations, the Building Trades Council and the Operating Engineers, will have information on available jobs.

Dubois said organizers are expecting about 200 people to attend.

Neighborhoods in Spokane are being asked to register their parties with the Community Oriented Policing Services online at spokanecops.org /national-night-out -registration. More than 70 parties have been registered and more are coming in every day, said COPS Program Manager Maurece Vulcano.

Those interested in attending a National Night Out in their Spokane neighborhood can check out a list of public gatherings that will be posted at spokanecops.org/events on Tuesday.

The Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort (SCOPE) program is compiling a list of National Night Out events in Spokane County. It’s available at scopespokanewa.org.

One of the largest National Night Out gatherings in Spokane County will be at the Target at 12724 E. Sprague Ave. from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 7. There will be free food and ice cream, the SCOPE mounted patrol, water activities, a pie-eating contest and a visit from the county Sheriff’s helicopter.

People can also bring documents for shredding, and raffle tickets will be available in exchange for a canned food item for Second Harvest.

Some parties in Spokane are being held after National Night Out, including one in Hays Park, 1812 E. Providence Ave., from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 10. There will be live music, games, firefighters, police and city officials in attendance.